The Akron Zips softball team, led by record-setting hitter Meagan Lee, is the No. 1 seed in the MAC tournament and aims for further success this week. They will play on May 7 against the winner of the Ohio-Central Michigan game.
Key points
Akron Zips softball team is the No. 1 seed in the MAC tournament
Meagan Lee is a record-setting hitter for the team
Akron has a season record of 31-23, 21-6 in the MAC
The team will play on May 7 against Ohio or Central Michigan
Akron joins 1998 team as MAC regular-season champions
With a record-setting hitter atop its order and assorted key contributors throughout the lineup, the Akron Zips softball team achieved something rare this season. And the Zips hope to achieve more this week.
Akron continues its record-breaking season as the No. 1 seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament this week. Akron is set to play at noon Thursday, May 7, at Firestone Stadium against the winner of Wednesday's Ohio-Central Michigan game.
The Zips (31-23, 21-6) joined the 1998 team as the only two UA squads to win a MAC regular-season softball title.
“I think we've really relied on our energy and momentum throughout the season,” Akron redshirt sophomore pitcher Madie Jamrog said May 5 before a practice at Firestone Stadium.
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass and and Sydney Selker break lose before practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog winds up to deliver a pitch in the bullpen at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
Q&A
What is Akron Zips softball team's record this season?
The Akron Zips have a record of 31-23 and 21-6 in the MAC this season.
When does Akron Zips softball play in the MAC tournament?
Akron Zips softball is set to play at noon on May 7 in the MAC tournament.
Who are the key players for Akron Zips softball this season?
Meagan Lee is a record-setting hitter, and Madie Jamrog is a notable pitcher for the team.
What achievement did the Akron Zips softball team accomplish this season?
The Akron Zips joined the 1998 team as the only two UA squads to win a MAC regular-season softball title.
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University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters warms up in the bullpen during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Meagan Lee fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson hits to the outfielders during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielders Ava Hensley and Meagan Lee joke as they wait to take part in a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron infielder Brooke Sivek covers first base during a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron infielder McKayla McGee takes the throw to first base during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog catches the ball hit back to the mound during an infield drill at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026. at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr takes part in a drill during pratice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass, left, and Ava Hensley, center, watch as Sydney Selker fields the ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr takes part in a drill during pratice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his team before taking to the infield for practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson signals his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog throws to first base during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters delivers a pitch during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron infielder McKayla McGee catches a pop up during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
Softballs rest on the field at Firestone Stadium in Akron where the University of Akron Zips Softball team held practice on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass and and Sydney Selker break lose before practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass and and Sydney Selker break lose before practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog winds up to deliver a pitch in the bullpen at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters warms up in the bullpen during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielder Meagan Lee fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson hits to the outfielders during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielders Ava Hensley and Meagan Lee joke as they wait to take part in a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron infielder Brooke Sivek covers first base during a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron infielder McKayla McGee takes the throw to first base during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog catches the ball hit back to the mound during an infield drill at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026. at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr takes part in a drill during pratice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass, left, and Ava Hensley, center, watch as Sydney Selker fields the ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr takes part in a drill during pratice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his team before taking to the infield for practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson signals his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Madie Jamrog throws to first base during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron’s Sammy Lehnherr fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron pitcher Macy Walters delivers a pitch during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron head softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
University of Akron infielder McKayla McGee catches a pop up during practice at Firestone Stadium in Akron on May 5, 2026.
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Akron Zips softball prepares for MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium
Softballs rest on the field at Firestone Stadium in Akron where the University of Akron Zips Softball team held practice on May 5, 2026.
Record-setting senior Meagan Lee provides a spark atop the batting order and in center field. Lee enters the MAC tournament with 275 career hits, the most in Akron history.
“Meagan has a constant ability to get on base,” Akron coach Craig Nicholson said. “That is the first and foremost thing, and then, second, she's probably as good a bunter as I've ever had. I’ve maybe had one other kid that I would compare her to. She's the best bunter in this league and it’s not close. Out of those 275 hits, I would bet you 100 of them are bunt hits.”
University of Akron outfielder Meagan Lee fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Meagan Lee fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Lee is not the only one breaking records this season.
Akron set single-season program records for home runs (53), RBIs (291) and walks (194).
“Our offense is a big piece of what we've done through the course of the regular season,” Nicholson said. "We've pitched it well when we needed to. … The vibe around here and the belief in what we're trying to do combined with the ability to kind of keep things pretty lighthearted and have fun with it, I think those things are kind of the intangible factors to our success.”
Senior second baseman Brooke Sivek and Lee are one-two in career runs scored at Akron with 149 and 147, respectively.
“Meagan's awesome,” Akron junior first baseman Sophia Wygast said. “She can bunt. She can slap. She can drag bunt. She can hit away, which has been a really cool thing to see her do this year because the past two years she hasn't really been able to swing away in a game. And this year it's done a lot of damage for the team.”
University of Akron outfielders Ava Hensley and Meagan Lee joke as they wait to take part in a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielders Ava Hensley and Meagan Lee joke as they wait to take part in a drill during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Meagan Lee, Sophia Wygast lead Akron into MAC softball tournament
Nicholson was named MAC Coach of the Year and Akron junior catcher Katie Cantrell was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Lee, Wygast and Cantrell earned first-team All-MAC honors.
Akron junior left fielder Haley Glass, junior third baseman Lily Sullivan and Jamrog received second-team All-MAC honors. Designated player/catcher Kenzie Gatti was named to the All-MAC freshman team.
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass, left, and Ava Hensley, center, watch as Sydney Selker fields the ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielders Haley Glass, left, and Ava Hensley, center, watch as Sydney Selker fields the ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Lee leads Akron in batting average (.414), on-base percentage (.473), hits (75) and runs (47) in 54 games. She also has 11 doubles, a triple, 21 walks and 20 RBIs.
“I've been a slapper my whole life and honestly, when I got to college, that's kind of been my bread-and-butter. That and my bunting,” Lee said. “And then this year, I kind of developed my hit away game a little bit more, and that's honestly been the biggest factor for me. Putting in the work in offseason and just trusting what I see on the field and the feel of my swing. My teammates are actually the biggest supporters ever. They love when I hit away. … This season has been amazing and everything I could have asked for."
University of Akron softball coach Craig Nicholson hits to the outfielders during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron softball coach Craig Nicholson hits to the outfielders during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Wygast leads Akron in home runs (11) and RBIs (60) in 52 games. She is batting .357 with a .613 slugging percentage, a .441 on-base percentage, 60 hits, 10 doubles, 24 walks and 26 runs.
Sullivan is at .335 with 55 hits, 32 runs, 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 35 RBIs in 54 games.
“Our offense has improved immensely over the past couple years, but it's not all just from one source,” Wygast said. “From the top to the bottom of our lineup, we have the slappers who can also lay down the bunts when we need them in the situational times, and we do have a ton of power. I think a lot of people’s swings have progressed this year a ton.”
Glass is batting .316 with 37 hits, 31 runs, seven doubles, nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 51 games.
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron outfielder Andrea Day fields a ball during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Akron’s other top hitters are Cantrell (.299, 3 HRs, 28 RBIs), sophomores Sydney Selker (.290-10-28) and Andrea Day (.282-2-23), junior Delaney Jenkinson (.248-7-19) and Gatti (.243-4-22).
“We swept Ball State at Ball State [by a combined score of 24-9 in three games] and that's who knocked us out of the conference tournament last year,” Nicholson said. “So, I think that was a big weekend for our group just to kind of get things rolling in MAC. That was our opening weekend in MAC.
“The next weekend, we took two out of three from Miami, who has won this thing the last five years. So, I think starting off like that was big for us. Winning at Ohio State [9-5 on April 21] was probably a key spot to … reinvigorate us a little bit for the stretch run.”
University of Akron softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
University of Akron softball coach Craig Nicholson talks to his players during practice at Firestone Stadium on May 5, 2026.
Jamrog is 15-6 with a 3.58 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 156⅓ innings. Junior Macy Walters is 13-10 with a 4.91 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 135⅓ innings.
“We want to win the MAC championship,” Lee said. “We just want to keep playing with each other because we love each other so much.”
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
